Music therapy uses music-based interventions to address emotional, cognitive & social needs, promoting overall mental & physical wellbeing.
Techniques such as listening, composing, or performing can reduce stress, improve mood & enhance personal expression.
Integrating music therapy into therapeutic practices supports healing & can be tailored to individual preferences & conditions.
Music has long been used to uplift, soothe, and connect. It is also a powerful therapeutic tool.
Music therapy is a recognized, evidence-based practice that promotes emotional, cognitive, and physical health through structured interventions delivered by credentialed professionals (American Music Therapy Association [AMTA], n.d.; Bradt & Dileo, 2010).
Unlike passive listening, music therapy involves targeted techniques — such as improvisation, songwriting, and guided listening — designed to meet individual therapeutic goals (Geretsegger et al., 2014).
Research supports its use across diverse populations, including individuals with depression, autism spectrum disorder, and dementia (Maratos et al., 2008; Geretsegger et al., 2014; Gerdner & Swanson, 1993).
In my work, I’ve seen music deepen insight and offer new avenues for expression. This article explores how and why this method works.
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Music therapy is a structured, evidence-based clinical practice that uses musical interventions to support emotional, cognitive, physical, and social goals within a therapeutic relationship (AMTA, n.d.). It is conducted by credentialed professionals trained in both music and psychotherapy.
Bruscia (1998, as cited in Geretsegger et al., 2014, p. 2) defines it as “a systematic process of intervention wherein the therapist helps the client to promote health, using musical experiences and the relationships that develop through them as dynamic forces of change.” This underscores the centrality of both music and the therapeutic alliance in the healing process.
Therapists may use songwriting, improvisation, receptive listening, or movement-based activities, depending on the client’s needs. These interventions can support emotional expression, social connection, memory, and physical coordination (AMTA, n.d.; Bruscia, 1998).
Therapeutic music vs. music therapy
It’s important to distinguish between music therapy and general uses of music for wellbeing, sometimes called music medicine or therapeutic music. Music medicine often involves listening to prerecorded music provided by health care staff without the involvement of a trained music therapist (Bradt & Dileo, 2014). Although beneficial, it lacks the intentional, relationship-centered process that defines music therapy.
A growing area of innovation is technology-assisted music therapy, especially as demand increases for accessible, remote care.
For example, a recent pilot study found that virtual music-based interventions grounded in positive psychology reduced stress and enhanced emotional regulation in college students during times of elevated psychological distress (Liu et al., 2024). Participants engaged in tailored musical activities via digital platforms, highlighting how music therapy can be both flexible and effective in virtual settings.
While virtual options do not replace in-person therapy, they expand access, especially where geographic or clinical barriers exist. As the field evolves, maintaining the core components of training, therapeutic intention, and individualized care remains essential, regardless of the format.
How can music help with mental health?
Music engages the brain in complex and powerful ways, influencing mood, attention, cognition, and emotional regulation (Koelsch, 2009; Zatorre & Salimpoor, 2013).
These effects form the basis for music’s therapeutic potential in mental health treatment. While people often turn to music for comfort or stimulation, music therapy applies these principles through structured, intentional intervention delivered by trained professionals (AMTA, n.d.).
From a neuroscientific perspective, music modulates key brain systems involved in emotion, motivation, and memory. According to Koelsch (2009), five primary mechanisms explain how music supports psychological functioning: modulation of attention, emotion, cognition, behavior, and communication. These mechanisms help explain the efficacy of this approach for depression, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions.
Group music therapy has been associated with reduced depressive symptoms and improved emotional wellbeing in women experiencing psychological distress (Liu et al., 2024).
Additional research indicates that music can engage dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways linked to emotion and reward, further supporting its relevance for mood disorders (Ayoub et al., 2024).
Beyond mood regulation, music therapy can foster self-awareness, interpersonal connection, and emotional insight. Group-based approaches have been shown to enhance emotional expression and social cohesion (Gaebel et al., 2025; Liu et al., 2024), while rhythm and improvisation help clients engage more freely and lower psychological defenses (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014).
In my practice, clients have often described moments of clarity when reflecting on the lyrics or tone of a song, highlighting music’s capacity to deepen therapeutic work.
When integrated intentionally, music becomes more than background noise; it becomes a tool for healing.
How Does Music Therapy Work in Practice?
Music therapy sessions are as diverse as the individuals who participate in them.
While the specific structure may vary, all sessions are grounded in a therapeutic relationship. They are guided by clinical goals and facilitated by a credentialed professional (AMTA, n.d.).
What does a music therapist do?
Music therapists are credentialed professionals trained to assess a client’s emotional, cognitive, physical, and social needs and to develop individualized treatment plans using music-based interventions (AMTA, n.d.; Hanser, 2018). Interventions may include singing, playing instruments, analyzing lyrics, songwriting, rhythmic exercises, guided music listening, or music-assisted relaxation, depending on the client’s goals and preferences.
These techniques are applied to support a range of therapeutic outcomes, such as enhancing emotional expression, improving speech and communication skills, reducing anxiety, fostering social engagement, and supporting physical rehabilitation (Hanser, 2018).
Music therapists frequently collaborate with other professionals such as psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physicians as part of integrated care teams, particularly in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and educational settings (AMTA, n.d.).
What does a session look like?
Sessions vary by population and setting but typically fall into two categories: active (e.g., improvisation, songwriting, drumming) or receptive (e.g., listening, guided imagery; Grocke & Wigram, 2007).
For instance, rhythm-based interventions have been shown to support motor planning and timing in clients with neurological disorders (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014), while music-based relaxation can reduce anxiety in medical patients (Koelsch, 2009).
Although in-person work remains foundational, virtual formats are increasingly used to expand access, particularly when distance, mobility, or psychological barriers are present. When thoughtfully designed, digital sessions can maintain therapeutic impact and flexibility across diverse populations (Liu et al., 2024).
What can clients expect?
No musical skill is required to participate in music therapy. The focus is on using music as a therapeutic tool rather than on musical performance (AMTA, n.d.). Sessions are collaborative and often described by clients as engaging, emotionally safe, and even enjoyable, especially for individuals who find traditional talk therapy intimidating.
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Who Can Benefit From This Approach?
Music therapy offers versatile applications across a spectrum of populations, addressing both clinical conditions and enhancing wellbeing in nonclinical settings. Because it engages emotional, cognitive, sensory, and motor systems simultaneously, it is especially effective for individuals with complex needs (Koelsch, 2009).
Clinical populations
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Children and adolescents with ASD often face challenges in communication and social interaction. Music therapy has been shown to improve verbal and nonverbal communication skills, joint attention, and social reciprocity in this population (Geretsegger et al., 2014; Gao et al., 2025).
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
For individuals with dementia, music therapy can reduce agitation, enhance orientation, and support memory recall (Gerdner & Swanson, 1993; Zhang et al., 2024).
Depression and mood disorders
Music therapy, particularly in group settings, has been associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in mood and emotional expression (Gaebel et al., 2025; Wang et al., 2023).
Parkinson’s disease
Rhythmic and vocal interventions in music therapy have been effective in improving motor coordination and voice strength in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (Lee et al., 2024; Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014).
Chronic pain and trauma
Music therapy offers nonverbal avenues for coping with chronic pain and trauma, aiding in emotional expression and stress reduction (Guétin et al., 2009).
Nonclinical populations
Workplace wellness
Music therapy interventions in the workplace have been shown to alleviate employee stress, enhance interpersonal relationships, and improve overall work efficiency (Venkatraman, 2024).
Personal development and coaching
Beyond clinical settings, music therapy techniques are used in coaching and personal development to foster self-awareness, creativity, and emotional resilience (Hanser, 2018).
Academic and student support
Students facing academic pressures have benefited from music therapy programs aimed at reducing stress and improving focus and emotional regulation (Liu et al., 2024).
General wellbeing
Engaging with music, even outside formal therapy, can enhance mood, reduce stress, and promote a sense of wellbeing in the general population (Chanda & Levitin, 2013).
The therapeutic power of music is grounded in its complex and well-documented effects on the brain. Music activates multiple brain regions simultaneously, including areas involved in emotion, memory, attention, motor coordination, and reward (Koelsch, 2009).
One of the most cited studies in this field by Blood and Zatorre (2001) used positron emission tomography scans to demonstrate that listening to pleasurable music activated brain regions involved in reward and emotion, including the ventral striatum and orbitofrontal cortex.
Participants who reported experiencing “chills” during music listening showed increased activity in these areas, suggesting a neurochemical basis for emotional responses to music (Blood & Zatorre, 2001).
Recent studies have reinforced and extended these findings. For example, a review detailed how music can reduce pain perception through both psychological distraction and neurochemical modulation, such as increased dopamine and endorphin activity (Ayoub et al., 2024).
Similarly, music-based rhythm interventions stimulate motor timing networks in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, with evidence supporting their use in motor rehabilitation, especially in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and stroke (Park et al., 2024).
On a cellular level, music exposure has also been shown to affect brain plasticity. In an animal model of depression, Zuo et al. (2024) found that exposure to music altered hippocampal activity and improved depressive-like behaviors, suggesting biological mechanisms relevant to mood regulation.
These neuroscientific findings confirm what music therapists observe in practice: that music, when used intentionally, can catalyze emotional insight, behavioral change, and cognitive engagement. Understanding the neural basis of these effects strengthens the case for music therapy as a scientifically grounded and clinically versatile intervention.
To explore the neuroscience behind music in more depth, see:
Music therapy and its impact on the brain - Elizabeth Stegemoller
This video offers a clear and engaging summary of how music activates brain regions related to emotion, memory, and reward — concepts directly relevant to the mechanisms discussed in this section.
How Effective Is Musical Therapy?
The effectiveness of music therapy is supported by a substantial and growing body of clinical research. Studies across various populations consistently show that music therapy can improve emotional, cognitive, social, and physical outcomes when facilitated by a trained professional and tailored to client needs (AMTA, n.d.).
The AMTA provides an excellent summary of condition-specific evidence through its comprehensive research fact sheets. These documents review the state of the science for a wide range of conditions. Each fact sheet synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, making them a reliable reference for practitioners, researchers, and policy makers.
Depression and mood disorders
In the area of mood disorders, recent research shows clear therapeutic value. A randomized controlled trial by Gaebel et al. (2025) found that women participating in group music therapy reported improvements in mood, emotional expression, and social connection.
Similarly, Wang et al. (2023) conducted a meta-analysis involving over 1,700 older adults with depression and found that music therapy alleviated symptoms of depression and anxiety and supported blood pressure regulation and cognitive performance. Passive, individual-based interventions of at least 20 hours yielded the most robust effects.
Autism spectrum disorder
Music therapy has also been shown to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Gao et al. (2025) found significant improvements in communication, emotional responsiveness, and behavioral regulation among children who participated in music-based interventions.
These findings build on earlier research by Geretsegger et al. (2014), who documented gains in joint attention and social reciprocity in children with ASD.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
For individuals with dementia, music therapy has been shown to reduce agitation, enhance memory recall, and improve quality of life. Zhang et al. (2024) confirmed the value of both active and receptive music therapy in supporting cognitive and emotional wellbeing in people with Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
Neurological rehabilitation
In neurological rehabilitation, rhythmic auditory stimulation and other rhythm-based techniques have been used to improve motor coordination, particularly in individuals recovering from stroke or living with Parkinson’s disease (Park et al., 2024). Interventions focused on rhythm and timing have been shown to enhance walking speed, balance, and physical functioning.
While more high-quality trials are needed in some areas, the collective evidence suggests that music therapy is a clinically effective, low-risk, and adaptable treatment modality — one increasingly integrated into modern health care.
7 Music-Based Therapy Modalities
Music therapy encompasses a range of techniques and theoretical approaches, allowing practitioners to tailor interventions to meet the needs of specific populations. These modalities fall broadly into two categories: receptive and active.
Receptive modalities
In receptive music therapy, clients listen to music selected or created by the therapist. This might involve relaxation-based listening, music-assisted mindfulness, or guided imagery.
Guétin et al. (2009) identified two key receptive approaches: relaxation-based and analytic music therapy. The former is often used in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, while the latter integrates verbal processing and is typically grounded in psychodynamic theory.
Receptive modalities are particularly accessible in virtual formats and can be delivered remotely. Therapists may use apps, playlists, or therapy platforms to prescribe audio experiences and track outcomes. Though the music itself may be prerecorded, the intervention remains therapeutic because it is tailored, goal-oriented, and embedded in a clinical relationship.
Active modalities
Active music therapy involves the client in making music, often through singing, playing instruments, movement, or improvisation. This participatory format is especially useful in fostering self-expression, social interaction, and motor coordination (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014). Common techniques include drumming, lyric analysis, songwriting, and musical improvisation.
Several named approaches fall within this category:
The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music
This approach combines classical music with imagery to explore inner experiences and promote insight (Grocke & Wigram, 2007).
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)
NMT uses rhythm and melody to retrain motor and cognitive functions. It is highly structured and evidence based, often used with clients recovering from stroke or living with Parkinson’s disease (Thaut & Hoemberg, 2014).
Orff-Schulwerk
This approach integrates music, movement, drama, and speech into lessons that mirror a child’s world of play, fostering creativity and social interaction (American Orff-Schulwerk Association, n.d.).
Dalcroze Eurhythmics
This approach emphasizes the integration of movement with musical understanding, facilitating rhythmic skills and musical expression through kinesthetic learning (Habron, 2016).
Kodály Method
This method focuses on sequencing, pitch, and rhythm to support learning and communication. It emphasizes structured musical training that enhances both musical proficiency and broader communicative abilities (Tiszai, 2015).
Though distinct, these modalities can be blended within sessions to meet client goals.
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For therapists, coaches, and other helping professionals, music therapy offers a unique lens to support emotional expression, stress reduction, and relational growth. While credentialed music therapists provide clinical treatment, there are many ways to draw inspiration from music-informed practices in your own work.
We recommend the following resources:
33 Music Therapy Activities, Interventions and Tools
A practical overview of music therapy’s principles and applications, our music therapy activities article explores how music can serve as a bridge for emotional connection and personal growth.
What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?
This article reflects on how both clients and clinicians can benefit from music therapy, whether it is integrated through structured interventions or informal techniques.
Musical Mood Mapping
With this worksheet, you can help clients compile a personalized playlist for emotional regulation, but identifying their emotional patterns through music.
Soundtrack of Strengths
Encourage emotional insight and strength building by creating this playlist of personal strengths.
Music therapy is more than a creative outlet. It’s an evidence-based clinical practice grounded in neuroscience and relational care. By harnessing the brain’s response to rhythm, melody, and harmony, it promotes healing across emotional, cognitive, and social domains.
Whether supporting a child with autism or an adult navigating depression, music therapy offers personalized, flexible interventions. In my own work, I’ve seen how even a single musical moment can deepen insight and connection.
As access grows through in-person sessions and digital formats, music therapy is poised to play an even greater role in integrated care. For helping professionals, this is an opportunity to broaden collaborative possibilities, whether by incorporating music-informed practices or partnering with board-certified music therapists where available.
Music therapy has shown effectiveness across diverse populations, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, dementia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease (AMTA, 2024; Geretsegger et al., 2014; Gerdner & Swanson, 1993). It can be adapted to suit children, adolescents, and adults in clinical, educational, and community settings.
How is music therapy different from just listening to music?
Listening to music for relaxation can be helpful, but it isn’t music therapy. Music therapy involves goal-directed, individualized interventions provided by a credentialed therapist in a therapeutic relationship (AMTA, n.d.). These interventions may include actively making music, improvisation, or guided listening, all tailored to support emotional, cognitive, or behavioral outcomes.
Is music therapy a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?
Music therapy and CBT are distinct but can be complementary. CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring cognitive distortions, while music therapy uses musical processes to support psychological, social, or neurological goals (Bruscia, 1998). Some therapists integrate CBT principles into music therapy, particularly when addressing mood or anxiety disorders (Liu et al., 2024), but music therapy encompasses a broader range of methods and theoretical frameworks.
Ayoub, M., Shahwan, S., & Tabet, J. (2024). Music and the neurochemical modulation of mood: A review of recent findings. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 18(45).
Blood, A. J., & Zatorre, R. J. (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(20), 11818–11823. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.191355898
Bradt, J., & Dileo, C. (2014). Music interventions for mechanically ventilated patients. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD006902. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006902.pub3
Bruscia, K. E. (1998). Defining music therapy (2nd ed.). Barcelona Publishers.
Gao, Y., Li, M., Wang, Q., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Music therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(1), 150–165.
Gaebel, C., Stoffel, M., Aguilar-Raab, C., Jarczok, M. N., Rittner, S., Ditzen, B., & Warth, M. (2025). Effects of group music therapy on depressive symptoms in women: The MUSED-study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 374, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.01.011
Gerdner, L. A., & Swanson, E. A. (1993). Effects of individualized music on confused and agitated elderly patients. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 7(5), 284–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-9417(93)90006-I
Geretsegger, M., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., & Gold, C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6), CD004381. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3
Grocke, D., & Wigram, T. (2007). Receptive methods in music therapy: Techniques and clinical applications for music therapy clinicians, educators and students. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Guétin, S., Soua, B., Voiriot, G., Picot, M. C., & Herisson, C. (2009). The effect of music therapy on mood and anxiety–depression: An observational study in institutionalised patients with traumatic brain injury. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 52(1), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annrmp.2008.08.009
Habron, J. (2016). Dalcroze eurhythmics and the body: Rhythmic movement and musical consciousness. Music Education Research, 18(2), 111–127.
Hanser, S. B. (2018). The new music therapist’s handbook (3rd ed.). Berklee Press.
Lee, S. K., Yu, J., Kim, H. J., & LaGasse, A. B. (2024). Therapeutic singing for voice strength and psychosocial wellbeing in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Music Therapy, 61(2), 153–172.
Liu, Y., Chen, X., Wong, S., & Chen, W. (2024). Virtual music therapy to support emotional regulation and stress recovery in university students: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 1124.
Maratos, A., Gold, C., Wang, X., & Crawford, M. (2008). Music therapy for depression. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), CD004517. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004517.pub2
Park, H. J., Kim, J., & Thaut, M. H. (2024). Effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait and motor function in stroke and Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. NeuroRehabilitation, 55(1), 11–22.
Thaut, M. H., & Hoemberg, V. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of neurologic music therapy. Oxford University Press.
Tiszai, M. (2015). The Kodály method today: An overview and practical guide. International Journal of Music Education, 33(2), 234–248.
Venkatraman, K. (2024). Workplace music therapy: Enhancing employee wellbeing and team cohesion. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 29(1), 10–19.
Wang, M., Wu, J., & Yan, H. (2023). Effect of music therapy on older adults with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 53, 101809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101809
Zatorre, R. J., & Salimpoor, V. N. (2013). From perception to pleasure: Music and its neural substrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(Supplement 2), 10430–10437. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1301228110
Zhang, H., Sun, W., & Zhao, Y. (2024). Music therapy for dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Geriatrics, 24(88).
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About the author
Andrea Lein, Ph.D. is a professional speaker, author, and psychologist on a mission to inspire others to lead healthy, flourishing lives. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical & School Psychology and an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, specializing in giftedness, from the University of Virginia.
Music has long been used to uplift, soothe, and connect. It is also a powerful therapeutic tool.
Music therapy sessions are as diverse as the individuals who participate in them.
Music therapy encompasses a range of techniques and theoretical approaches, allowing practitioners to tailor interventions to meet the needs of specific populations. These modalities fall broadly into two categories: receptive and active.
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